Car Camping is Great for Family with Young Kids

Do you have a weekend without anything to do or a weekend when you want some quality family time? Here is an idea, go car camping. Pack up the truck and head for the woods. Sitting by a campfire with your favorite people is sure to melt the stress of the work week away.

First of all, let’s define car camping.  When you can drive your vehicle right up to the campsite, that’s called car camping.  Even if you’re driving a truck, it’s still called car camping.  The advantage of car camping versus base camping is that you can take anything you want with you.  If you want to take a hammock, a huge grill, or a stack of magazines, you can.  Load your car or truck with food, clothing, shelter, bedding, games, and anything else you want to take along and get going.  It’s really that simple.

So where can you car camp?  Just about anywhere.  National and state parks don’t allow car camping except in designated campgrounds; other than that, you can car camp virtually anywhere on public lands.  The internet is loaded with websites that can help.

Here are some things I take along when I car camp:  hiking gear, bird-watching binoculars and field guide, a radio for music and weather updates, tent, cot, sleeping bag, grill, shovel, fire starting gear, lots of food and drink, first aid kit, a stack of reading material – this can also be used for building a fire – such as newspapers and magazines, rain gear, folding chairs and table, stove, ….you get the idea.  I take all that I need to be comfortable.  If you don’t have these things, don’t fret, all you really need are food, shelter and common sense.

Camping is a great way to renew and strengthen relationships. You will have a wonderful time without the distractions of television, telephone, internet, and alarm clocks.  I’ll always remember something a dear friend of mine told me years ago, “Time spent in our great outdoors is time added to your life.”  That sounds like a good reason to go.

Use this information, and you’ll Get It Right The First Time.  Get Outdoors!